AUBURN, Alabama -- Gus Malzahn is starting to drum up support for Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall, who he believes should be in the race for the Heisman Trophy.

"He should be in the mix, there's no doubt," Malzahn said Monday. "I don’t get a chance to watch other teams like all of you all do but he should be in the mix. He is one of the better players in college football and he is leading our team.”

The first-year starter's Heisman campaign might have to wait until next season when the quarterback is a senior and is much more visible on the national radar. Still, the three-time SEC Offensive Player of the Week is starting to turn heads for his late-game heroics.

Marshall has led No. 3 Auburn (11-1, 7-1 SEC) to four fourth-quarter comebacks in the final minutes in victories against Mississippi State, Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama. Auburn faces No. 5 Missouri (11-1, 7-1) in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta on Saturday (3 p.m., CBS).

Marshall leads Auburn with 2,549 yards of total offense and averages 231.7 yards per game. He has also emerged as a dangerous threat in the running game in which he has helped power with 922 yards (83.8 yards per game).

He rushed for 99 yards and one touchdown against Alabama, which was only allowing 91.3 yards per game on the ground entering the Iron Bowl. The Tigers won 34-28 thanks to a game-tying touchdown from Marshall to Sammie Coates with 32 seconds remaining and Chris Davis' missed field goal return for a touchdown as time expired.

Auburn fans react as Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall (14) leaps into the end zone Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013, during the second quarter of the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. The touchdown was reversed. (Julie Bennett/jbennett@al.com)

"I am going to say this again, he has only been here for what, six months?" Malzahn said. "What he has done to lead our team and put us where we are at is really unbelievable. He has gotten more comfortable, but that is to be expected. He was learning the offense the first four weeks and each week he is getting more comfortable. His teammates are really playing hard for him.

"You are talking about the best players in America, and I think at this point in the season, you have to start at least mentioning his name with some of these other guys.”

Marshall threw a game-winning touchdown pass to C.J. Uzomah with 10 seconds remaining in Week 3 against Mississippi State. He also led the Tigers on a 13-play, game-winning drive on the road at then-No. 7 Texas A&M with 1:19 remaining.

His 73-yard tipped pass against Georgia rallied the Tigers to an improbable 43-38 victory in the Prayer in Jordan-Hare on Nov. 16.